Wildlife Wednesday: Desert Cottontails

Desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii), otherwise known as Audubon’s cottontails, can be found during the morning and evening hours at Red Rock Canyon. During the day, desert cottontails lay low in or near burrows avoiding predators and extreme temperatures. These gray to beige rabbits munch on various grasses, shrubs, cacti, and other fruits. Desert cottontails do not grow nearly to the size of black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus), featuring smaller ears, smaller limbs, and a smaller white tail as opposed to a long gray tail.

Southern Nevada Conservancy, a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Las Vegas, NV, serves Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area under a formal agreement with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in many ways, including interpretive programming, fee-station management, retail operations, and this website.